Latch mechanism for folding table leg assembly



NOV. 20, 1951 J P- D 2,575,942

LATCH MECHANISM FOR FOLDING TQ BLE LEG ASSEMBLY FilGd D80. 15, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR, x24:

ATTORNEY,

Nov. 20, 1951 CQFFED 2,575,942

LATCH MECHANISM FOR FOLDING TABLE LEG ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 15, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR,

ATTORNEY.

inforcing brackets l I.

Patented Nov. 20, 1951 HIGH MEommrsM FOR FOLDING T BLE w LEG ASSEMBLY Earl Cuffed, Depew, N. Y.

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This invention "relates generally to card tables but more -qzdarticular-ly to improvements in the -:latching 'mechanism -of such tables having :peri- -metrieally foldab1e 'or collapsible legs for facilitating storage and shipping. f

One of its objects is to provide a sturdy table of this character which is so designed and constructed as to enable the legs to be moved simultaneously to a folded or unfolded position and to be effectually latched in their supporting or unfolded position.

Another object of the invention is to provide 1 a latching mechanism which is simple and compact. easy to manipulate, and which has positive means for retaining the legs in their extended position.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective of the table embodying my invention. Figure 2 is an enlarged bottom plan view thereof showing the legs in their folded or collapsed position. Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional bottom plan view of the same showing the leg-actuating assembly in its leg-unfolded position. Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross section taken on line 4-4, Figure 3. Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 5-5, Figure 4.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to the drawings, It) indicates the tabletop which may be of any suitable and well known construction, being provided at its corners and on the underside thereof with re- Pivoted to these brackets to swing vertically to an upright supporting position or to a collapsed, folded position against the underside of the table top, are legs l2, each leg being adapted to assume a folded position along and substantially parallel to the respective sides of the table. As seen in Figure 4, each corner bracket H is formed to provide a substantially U-shaped portion l3 in which the upper end of the respective leg is received and to which it is pivoted, as indicated at M. The upper end of each leg preferably has a metallic pivot-engaging strap l5 embracing the same, and as seen in Figures 3 and 4, this strap pro- Jects beyond the inner side of the leg with the pivot l4 passing through such extension and a sleeve 16 applied thereto and located adjacent the upper end thereof, whereby the leg-pivot is brought inwardly of the longitudinal center line of the leg.

Applied to the underside of the table top and extending centrally from one side thereof to the 11m (enema-99 other is -a reinforcing plate I! of metal or the like terminating at'its ends in downwardly-bent flanges 18 for fastening it to the depending rim of the table top. An 'oscillatingor horizontallyswi-ng-ing controlling or actuating :means consisting of radial or crossed arms I9, 20 fulcrumed at their point of intersection to a central pivot-stud 2| applied to the plate I! and operatively connected to the legs is provided for simultaneously actuating them to their folded and unfolded positions. Adjacent their outer ends, which oppose the respective sides of the table, these crossed arms are braced or reinforced by tie bars 22 and the crossed arm l9 has its outer or terminal ends guided in longitudinal slots 23 formed in the plate-flanges l8, while the ends of the companion arm 20 are similarly guided in slots 24 formed in guide plates 25 applied to the companion sides of the table top, as shown in Figure 3. Braces 26 pivotally connected at one end at 21 to each leg I2 below its pivot l4 and at its opposite end at 28 adjacent the outer end of the companion crossed arm l9 or 20, serve to operatively connect the legs to the crossed arms to compel an unfolding or folding of the legs when such crossed arms are turned in one direction or the other.

To prevent accidental collapse of the legs in their unfolded or extended operative position, I provide a conveniently operated latching means disposed along one side of the table for retaining the crossed arms i9, 20 against turning. This means preferably consists of a vertically-swinging latching lever 29 pivoted intermediate its ends at 30 to the inner face of one of the arm guide plates 25 below the slot 24 thereof to intersect the same in one position thereof and provided at one end with a latching notch or shoulder 3| for releasable engagement with the opposing end of the arm 20 in a manner to retain such arm against one end of the guide-slot 24 and positively latch the crossed-arm, leg-operating assembly in an unfolded position, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The other end of this latching lever extends downwardly and outwardly beneath and in spaced relation to the marginal bottom edge of the table top to provide a fingeractuating tab or projection 32. Seated in a downwardly-opening socket 33 in the table top and abutting at its lower end against this fingertab is a. spring 34 which tends constantly to urge the lever 29 to its latching position shown in Figure 4. When the legs are simultaneously unfolded to set the table up for use, the arm 20 first displaces the lever 20 downwardly clear of the guide slot 24 and after passing it and abutting the end of the slot, the latch locks behind the opposing edge of such arm to latch the legs in their extended position. When it is desired to take down the table, the latch is pressed upwardly to its arm-releasing position, after which the crossed arms I9, 20 are folding position.

I claim as my invention:

turned to their leg- A latching mechanism for a perimetrically folding table leg assembly having oscillating arms facing the respective sides of the table, comprising a slotted guide plate adapted to be secured to the inner face of one side of the table-topfor guidingly receiving, the terminal end of the come panion oscillating arm, and a spring-urged, vertically-swinging latching lever pivoted on said guide plate alongside its slot and having a-shoulder atone end thereof for engaging and releasably retaining the eompanionradial arm against .one end of the. ,plateslot in the unfolded position of the leg assembly, the other end of said latching member having an outwardly-bent, finger-engaging tab thereon in normally spaced re- 4 lation to the marginal bottom edge of the adjoining side of the table.

EARL J. COFFED.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS.

2.280,412 Knowles .2 Apr. 21,1942 

